Nothing Like Being Kicked When You're Down

So Will came in this morning and said, "I have some bad news?"
"Oh no..." I thought, "the bathroom flooded again..."  But that was not it.
"Unless something else happened that I'm unaware of, like someone moving it or something or... I don't know..." :::WAY LONG PAUSE::: "Someone stole your cooler."

Okay.  Not the end of the world.  Sure, it was a gift from my parents.  Yeah, we use it for camping.  And it was full of cans and bottles that still had to be returned for money.  But, it's not that big of a deal.  It's an object!  A cooler!

So why did I start crying?

I think it's because it's not about the cooler.  I mean... it sucks having my cooler stolen,  but maybe whoever stole it really needed it.  It WAS dirty and full of cans, so maybe they thought we didn't want it and they just really, really needed it.  (That's what I would like to keep thinking.)

But if the crying didn't come from the fact that a material object of mine was gone, where did the tears come from?

Well, when he was done telling me what had happened, I said to Will:  "It's okay.  We can always get a new cooler," and suddenly my heart hurt, because all my financial worries flooded over me like a wave crashing against the shore, and I knew that it wasn't entirely true.  I mean yes, maybe someday I will be able to buy a new cooler, but not now.  Not soon.  Who knows when really?  So I just kind of felt like... well, like someone was kicking me when I was down!  And that is not a good feeling.  And so the tears came.

But here I am, a few hours later.  The tears are gone, and I am only a little hurt still by my loss, but I have to remember that it IS just a cooler after all though.  Even if I can't buy another one anytime soon, I have other options for hauling around food, so I just need to take advantage of those and not complain.  I mean... a cooler is a luxury anyway, right?

So instead of lamenting the loss of my big, plastic, insulated box with wheels... I am going to be grateful that they only stole my cooler.  They could have broken into my car.  They didn't.  They could have stolen Tum's bike.  They didn't.  They could have broken into the house.  They didn't.  All they did was take a cooler (that maybe they really needed.)  So I am grateful.

And as I am grateful, I want to send some positivity out in the world to give back a little.  So first of all, I have a great site to share with you: New Age Journey.  This is a great site, full of positivity and helpfulness.  Click on ABOUT to read about Greta, and allow her and her positive outlook, her great sense of self, and her dedication to influencing the future in a good way, inspire you too.  She inspired me.  While I was down about my cooler, I read this:

"So then I finally realized through my experiences that I can not change the past but only influence the future. Whatever life throws at you it’s how you handle it that counts. I am grateful for each day and every day is a new day." -Greta, New Age Journey


I think sometimes it helps just to be reminded...


So since I can't change the fact that my cooler has been stolen, I can at least change my reaction to it.  No more tears, no more fears (Fear IS the mind killer), and no more feeling sorry for myself.  I mean, how can I feel sorry for myself when there are people in this country and around the world who have never even SEEN something like a cooler, let alone had one to be stolen.  So, instead of feeling sorry for me, I decided to be grateful, and try to offer some hope to them.


So I made the rounds to all my free donation sites that I love so much ( by the way, if you want to donate as well, the banners are at the top of the blog) and I sat down to write my blog, with the hopes that I can somehow inspire you all to be grateful and go out and do some good in the world... even if you too are feeling "kicked when you're down."


Have Hope.  Be Strong.  Be Grateful.  And know that you are not alone.


Peace and Love,
Meagan

Be Grateful

"Live like you were dying." -Tim McGraw

"No day but today." -Jonathan Larson

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." -James Dean

We hear these things all the time. "Live for today..." "Make the most of every day..." But... do we all do this? Do we appreciate each day as if it is a golden gift? Because it is. Every day we breathe the air we breathe, see the sights we see, hear the sounds we hear, love the people we love... but how much do we really appreciate it?

I watched "Last Holiday" again. Now, say what you will about that movie: It's predictable... maybe. It's a chick flick... probably. But that movie touches me. Why? Because it is another one of those reminders that we should appreciate our life. Not put everything off until tomorrow. What if tomorrow never comes?

Maybe I get too thoughtful over movies or songs or famous quotes or poetry or theatre or whatever... but my sensitive soul is moved by these things, especially the ones that remind me of all there is to be grateful for.

The world is beautiful. Yes, there is pain. Yes, there is hardship. But the world is beautiful. And I am so grateful to be in it. I need to remember this. We all need to remember this.

So often we live day to day not thinking of these things. We get up, go to work, pay the bills, sleep... get up, go to work, pay the bills, sleep... get up.......... okay, you get the picture.

But why?

Now don't get me wrong. I understand the importance of work and money in the world we live in now; in fact, I feel pretty darn good after a hard day's work. But I just know that there's more. There's more to life than working to get by... clipping coupons, working overtime... there's so much more.

I have to believe that I can have it all. I have to believe that I don't just have to get by. Why? Well, I guess it's because I believe that I wasn't meant to be on this Earth just to slave away and pay taxes along the way.

So as I continue on my journey to discover just what my reason for being here is, I will remember to be grateful. To look at each day as a gift, and not get caught up in the daily struggle. But instead, wake up each day and take a deep breath of air, and enjoy my life. Live my life to the fullest.

Live like I was dying I suppose. ;)

"There's only us, there's only this.

Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.

No other road, no other way...

NO DAY BUT TODAY!"

-RENT